Trimming the Young Tree 



185 



tree may fall a prey to borers or a victim to high winds. 

 On the other hand, trees may be trimmed too severely 

 when set. Except possibly in the case of peaches, it is 

 probably unwise to trim the trees to a mere pole; and with 

 peaches, it may be better to leave spurs with 

 at least one bud than to trim to a whip. 

 There should be a number of fresh bright 

 buds left on the top, for these are the points 

 where early and active growth 

 begins. These buds are on strong 

 branches. If they are removed, 

 the weaker or half-dormant buds 

 on the main trunk or low down in 

 the crotches, must take up the 

 work, and these start slowly and 

 often feebly. 



There are two general methods 

 of trimming the tops of young 

 trees at planting time. One method 

 cuts back all the branches to spurs 

 of one to three buds; or some- 

 times, particularly with dwarf pears 

 set when two years old, the side 

 branches may be cut 

 entirely away, leaving 

 only the buds on the 

 main stem or trunk. 

 The tree, therefore, 

 "feathers out" the 

 first season; that is, it makes many small shoots along 

 the main trunk. The following autumn or spring, the top 

 is started at the desired height. Fig. 31 shows a peach 

 tree as received from the nursery, and Fig. 32 the same 



FIG. 31. Yearling peach 

 tree, for planting. 



FIG. 32. Peach tree 

 pruned. 



